You Are What You Eat: Dietary Supplements vs. Eating Healthy

Fun With Food

Seems like everyone is looking for that “perfect” dietary supplement. “Which one should I take?” asks the lady to the pharmacist. If only he told her the truth.

While there are many good dietary supplements on the market today, they are just that, supplements. They are not meant to be taken in place of a healthy diet, and they can’t make up for an unhealthy lifestyle. The best way to get vitamins, minerals, and other vital nutrients your body needs is by eating healthy food.

Supplements are not meant to replace fruits and vegetables which are full of natural vitamins and fiber. Fiber will keep you feeling full longer, promoting weight loss. It can also help lower cholesterol and prevent heart disease.

Healthy foods also contain phytochemicals, like antioxidants which slow aging and support the immune system. Garlic contains the phytochemical allicin, which has antibacterial properties. There are hundreds of these, and we are only beginning to understand all the benefits. While some phytochemicals, like lycopene, may be available in supplement form, eating a fresh tomato has numerous health benefits. It’s low in calories, and rich in fiber and numerous vitamins and phytochemicals.

Supplements and vitamins are a multi-billion dollar industry. Do you really want to shell out your hard earned money to someone else? If you eat healthy, you can keep your money and spend it on a day at the spa. While taking some supplements can help promote good health, going overboard is just making the BIG pharmaceutical companies rich.

If you’re not already eating healthy, you can change this. Eat a variety of foods. Add fruits and vegetables to your diet. Drink more water, exercise, and avoid excess alcohol. You’ll have more energy, increased immunity, and look better.

A good well-rounded multivitamin can help by filling in the gaps in your diet. Just remember that not all supplements are created equal. Make sure to look at the ingredients, and look for the multivitamin with the highest percentages of vitamins with no fillers.

If we’re good to our bodies, our bodies will be good to us. Although some complain about the cost of healthy foods, in the long run it saves money on supplements and medical bills. Plus, feeling good is priceless. Eating well will help in providing us with a long and healthy life.